Cigarette lighter



May 2, 1939. FLQRMAN 2,156,586

0 I GARET'IE LIGHTER Original Filed May-l2, 1937 2? 3b 38 1717/29 270mm Patented May 2, 1939 UNITE-D S A'i ET 0mm Application March 12, 1937, Serial N 0. 130,600 Renewed September 28, 1938 12 Claims.

My invention relates to cigarette lighters, and more particularly to lighters of the electric type.

An object of my invention isto provide a lighter which when not in use resembles a candle.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a lighter in which the lighting parts are -concealed and protected when the lighter is not 'in use.

Still another object is to provide a lighter which is operated by picking up the candle-resembling section from a holder and suitably operating the same.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lighter of this type the casing of which is formed of a collapsible tube, which can be manufactured and decorated at a very low price.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully fromv the following description, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation the lighter in inoperative position in a holder.

' Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line IIII in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the lighter.

Fig. 5 is an expanded View of the lighting elements, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the filament end of the lighter.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lighter when not in use resembles a candle, being set in a candle stick 2 of the usual type, having an inverted conical recess therein. The lighter itself comprises a body portion or outer wall 4 generally cylindrical in form and having at the end opposite the lighti-ng mechanism, or, in other words, at the end which is uppermost when the lighter is not in use, a pointed section 8 generally resembling the end of a candle. The casing 4 is preferably made as a collapsible tube similar to those ordinarily used for toothpaste and the like, and may be lithographed or otherwise ornamented in any suitable fashion to represent a candle. I have found that such collapsible tubes are sufficiently sturdy for my purposes, although obviously if desired the casing may be made as a rigid metal member.

Within the pointed end of the casing 4 is arranged a coil spring 8 which rests on the end, and serves as a contact for two dry cells it! or any other suitable source of current arranged' within the casing.

In the open end of the cylindrical casing is mounted the lighting mechanism. This consists of a small casing I2 of conductive material "5 forming a fuel chamber which may be opened at its inner end by the removal of a threaded plug Id of conductive material for filling the lighter. This fuel plug rests on the upper battery or dry cell l0 and makes contact with one 10 terminal thereof. The fuel chamber isfilled with a suitable absorbent material, such as cotton wadding, indicated at I6, and at the open end of the lighting element is an upwardly extending tube M3 for holding the wick 2B which 15 extends downwardly into the absorbent material to receive fuel therefrom.

The small casing i2 is mounted within a sleeve 22 of any suitable conducting material, but is insulated therefrom by the interposition of a layer 24 of suitable insulation. The outer circumference of the lower end of the sleeve 22 is of slightly less diameter than the upper end. The sleeve 22 is covered on the outside with a sleeve 26 of insulating material, the lower portion of this sleeve also being of slightly less diameter than the upper portion.

The upper portion of the sleeve 26 is provided at one point with a vertical groove or slot 28 starting from the inner end and running upwardly about half the height of the sleeve. Within this sleeve fits a contact element comprising a flat leaf spring 30 secured at one end by a pin 32 to the wall of the casing 4 and at the other end provided with a pin or button 34 extending outwardly through an opening in the casing 4. It is evident that when the button 34 is pushed in the spring 30 will make contact with the exposed portion of the sleeve 22 and thus will close the circuit between the sleeve 22 and the 40 casing 4.

The outer end of the lighting element is provided with mechanism for igniting the wick whenever the circuit is closed by the button 34.

A washer 36 of insulating material is arranged .45 on top of the fuel chamber l2 and within the sleeve 22, which projects upwardly slightly above the top wall of the fuel chamber. On this washer rests a ring 38 of conducting material which is insulated by the washer from the fuel 50 chamber I2 but is in electrical contact with the sleeve 22. This ring has its, lower edge bent inwardly to enclose and hold therein a disc 40 of insulating material- The ring 38 has an inward extension 42 providedwith an upstanding por- .55

tion 44 which in turn has an off-set nose 46. A member 48 of conducting material is also provided extending upwardly from the insulating disc 40 and held therein by a portion extending beneath the disc 40 and then clamped to the disc as at 50. This portion which extends beneath the disc is of course in electrical contact with the upper surface of the fuel chamber l2. A small coil or filament 52 of wire forming a resistance heating element is supported between the upstanding elements 46 and 48.

The resistance coil mounting just described is held in place by a screw 54 which passes through the insulating disc 40 and is threaded in the top wall of the fuel chamber l2. The lighting element is held in the upper end of the casing 4 by a screw 56 which passes through the wall of the casing 4 and is threaded in the sleeve 26 without, however, making contact with the sleeve 22.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be obvious. When it is in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is picked up with the hand and inverted so that the lighting mechanism is on top. The pressure on the button 34 will then cause a current to flow from the batteries through the plug M, the fuel chamber I 2, upward extension 48, heating coil or filament 52, extension 46, ring 38, shell or sleeve 22, spring 30, casing 4 and spring 8 to the other side of the batteries. The coil 52 will become hot and will ignite the wick. When the pressure on the button is re leased, the circuit is broken and current will no longer flow so that the coil will not be heated. If the lighter is now restored to its normal inoperative position, the flame will be extinguished and the device will be ready for another operation.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cigarette lighter comprising an elongated cylindrical casing having one end open, and light ing mechanism mounted in the open end of said casing, said lighting mechanism comprising a member having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, means normally insulating said sleeve from the casing, and manually operable means to close a circuit between said sleeve and said casing.

2. A cigarette lighter comprising an elongated cylindrical casing having one end open, a source of current in said casing, and lighting mechanism mounted in the open end of said casing, said lighting mechanism comprising a member having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, means normally insulating said sleeve from the casing, and manually operable means to close a circuit between said sleeve and said casing.

3. A cigarette lighter comprising an elongated cylindrical casing having one end open, and lighting mechanism mounted in the open end of said casing, said lighting mechanism comprising a member having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, said sleeve extending into the open end of said casing, means normally insulating said sleeve from the casing, manually operable means to close a circuit between said sleeve and said casing, and wick lighting means mounted on said sleeve and fuel chamber and controlled by said last means to ignite said Wick.

4. A cigarette lighter comprising an elongated cylindrical casing having one end pointed and the other end open, a coil spring mounted in the pointed end of said casing, a battery in said casing engaging said coil spring, and lighting mechanism mounted in the open end of said casing, said lighting mechanism comprising a member having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, said sleeve extending into the open end of said casing, means normally insulating said sleeve from the casing, manually operable means to close a circuit between said sleeve and said casing, and wick lighting means mounted on said sleeve and fuel chamber and electrically connected to said sleeve and battery to ignite said wick.

5. A cigarette lighter comprising an elongated cylindrical casing having one end open, a source of current in said casing electrically connected thereto, and lighting mechanism mounted in the open end of said casing, said lighting mechanism comprising a member electrically connected to said source having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, said sleeve extending into the open end of said casing, means normally insulating said sleeve from the casing, manually operable means to close a circuit between said sleeve and said casing, a ring resting on top of said fuel chamber and insulated therefrom, and in electrical contact with the upper end of said sleeve, an element of insulating material mounted above said fuel chamber, a member mounted in said insulating element and having a portion below said insulating element engaging the top of the fuel chamber, and a heating coil carried by said ring and member adjacent said wick, whereby upon operation of said closing means said coil is heated to ignite the wick.

6. A cigarette lighter comprising an elongated nism comprising a member electrically connected to said source having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, said sleeve extending into the open end of said casing, means normally insulating said sleeve from the casing, manually operable means to close a circuit between said sleeve and said casing, a ring resting on said fuel chamber and insulated therefrom, and in electrical contact with the upper 5 cylindrical casing having one end open, a source of current in said casing electrically connected thereto, and lighting mechanism mounted in the open end of said casing, said lighting mechanism comprising a member electrically connected to said source having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, said sleeve extending into the open end of said casing, means normally insulating said sleeve from the casing, manually operable means to close a circuit between said sleeve and said casing, a washer on top of said fuel chamber, a ring resting on said washer and insulated thereby from said fuel chamber and in electrical contact with the upper end of said sleeve, said ring having a portion thereof upstanding above the plane thereof, an element of insulating material mounted within said ring, a member extending through said insulating element and having a portion below said insulating element engaging the top of the fuel chamber and a portion extending above the insulating element, and a heating coil carried by said two upwardly extending elements adjacent said wick, whereby upon operation of said closing means said coil is heated to ignite the wick.

8. In an electric cigarette lighter, lighting mechanism comprising a member having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, a washer on top of said fuel chamber, a ring resting on said washer and insulated thereby from said fuel chamber and in electrical contact with the upper end of said sleeve, said ring having a portion thereof upstanding above the plane thereof, an element of insulating material mounted within said ring, a member extending through said insulating element and having a portion below said insulating element engaging the top of the fuel chamber and a portion extending above the insulating element, and a heating coil carried by said two upwardly extending elements adjacent said wick.

9. A cigarette lighter comprising an elongated cylindrical casing having one end pointed and the other end open, a coil spring mounted in the pointed end of said casing, batteries in said casing engaging said coil spring, and lighting mech-- anism mounted in the open end of said casing, said lighting mechanism comprising a member having a fuel chamber therein and a wick extending from the free end thereof, said member engaging said batteries, a sleeve of conductive material surrounding said fuel chamber but insulated therefrom, said sleeve extending into the open end of said casing, means normally insulating said sleeve from the casing, manually operable means to close a circuit between said sleeve and said casing, a washer on top of said fuel chamber, a ring resting on said washer and insulated thereby from said fuel chamber and in electrical contact with the upper end of said sleeve, said ring having a portion thereof upstanding above the plane thereof, an element of insulating material mounted within said ring, a member extending through said insulating element and having a portion below said insulating element engaging the top of the fuel chamber and a portion extending above the insulating element, and a heating coil carried by said two upwardly extending elements adjacent said wick, whereby upon operation of said closing means said coil is heated to ignite the wick.

10. A lighter as claimed in claim 9 in which said means insulating the sleeve from the casing comprises a sleeve of insulating material having a vertical slot therein, and said circuit closing means comprises a leaf spring secured to the inner wall of the casing and lying in said notch and a button secured to said spring and extending outward through the wall of the casing.

11. An igniter comprising an outer tubular casing, a fuel chamber removably and partially telescoped within said casing, said chamber having a filling opening on the inner end thereof, an igniting filament on the outer end of said chamber, a removable closure means closing the said filling opening, battery means within said outer casing, means connecting one end of said batters means through said closure member with one end of said filament, and means electrically connecting the other end of said battery means with the other end of said filament.

12. An igniter comprising a base portion, a detachable upper portion telescopically mounted in said base portion, said upper portion being composed of an outer tubular casing, a fuel chamber removably and partially telescoped within said casing, said chamber having a filling opening on the inner end thereof, an igniting filament on the outer end of said chamber, a removable closure means closing the said filling opening, battery means within said outer casing, means connecting one end of said battery means through said closure member with one end of said filament, and means electrically connecting the other end of said battery means with the other end of said filament, said chamber being sealed against fuel losses by being telescoped within said casing on the inner end and by being telescoped within said base on the outer end.

IRVING FLORMAN. 

